We Called It Fate

Chapter Two : The Moving Up

I looked myself in a rectangular life-sized mirror. I am wearing my usual ironed uniform with matching waxed pair of black shoes. My mom got me a light make-up with my hair in a ponytail. So simple. Yet I am happy with it.

"Mia we're going! Are you done?" My mom's voice echoes in my room.

"Coming!" I shouted back as I pack my things in a nude colored sling bag.

We are already here. The place was not that grandiouse but it was beautiful. The stage was surrounded with white and red balloons. Above was also designed with white and red tapestries in every corner. The chairs in front of the grandstand was arranged by column and was divided into two. Between it, is a long red carpet. At the center there is a big rectangular banner written with a "Moving-up Ceremony batch 2017-2018". The teachers really do their best just to make this place looked beautiful. Though the venue was just in the school's grandstand. But they made the place worth for goodbyes. How ironic.

I sat in the last column found in the right side of the quadrangle facing the grandstand with my mom and grandma.

My mom is wearing a pastel and floral dress with her hair tied in a bun while grandma is wearing a plain royal blue dress.

My mom is in her fourthies. Mom and dad got divorced when I was ten so I live with my mom and went to grandma's house, my mother's mom, since my lolo died. We are now five years living in grandma's house. Everyday, when my mom went to a bakeshop to be a clerk, grandma will be there to rescue, and will take the responsibilities of being a mother to me that's why I am that close to her and I won't let her be disappointed with me.

When I am observing the surroundings I see Jill with her parents and her younger sister that I used to play with everytime I went Jill's house. I wish that if only I can also have a younger sister so that I would have had someone to play,talk and be crazy with. I see them sittin' with the same column as mine but they're in the front,four chairs from ours.

There's this a habit of mine that everytime I will attend an any type of program, the atmosphere made me shiver and I don't know why. Though the moving-up's music doesn't give this a justice.

There are different happy faces I saw. Some of it are awarded with honors, the others are with high honors but most of it are just a plain completers but sometimes aiming to be a part of the awardees. Me and Jill are awarded with honors not just because we're friends but because we want it in order to make our family especially parents to be proud and happy. Because in schooling to become a top notcher  or excellent on something in the class is the only thing that you can make in order to pay back your guardians sacrifices. And if you feel they are happy then that's the time you could also feel contended.

The program took five hours before it ends. I see proud but lonely faces. Farewells are everywhere. But before we go I took pictures with my friends,classmates and teachers. I also took  pictures with my family and Jill's.

Before I can desert the place, for the last time I can call myself a junior high schooler I observed the surroundings, smiling while tilting my body.

My grandma decided that we will eat in a restaurant near the place. Jill's parents also said that they will go and find some restaurants too. We congratulated each other before separating.

***

We order three different dishes,desserts and three same drinks good for three persons incase we can't finish it. I love this feeling of being with them eating outside wearing happy faces. Times like this that even just a couple of minutes or hours, we forgot that blues behind and just sincerely live the now because we all know that this can be rarely happens that's why nobody's killing the joy.

While eating I hear some familiar voices murmuring at the side table. Confused, so I glance sideward. Kumunot ang noo ko sa kakaisip kung saan ko sila nakita. Alam kong nakita ko nasila pero saan? Ibinalik ko na lamang ang atensiyon ko sa kinakain.

***

(Jayc's POV)

It's a routine. Same music. Same faces. Same emotions. It's our Moving Up ceremony. It means I am now going to take the senior high but I think it's gonna be the same. Kung hindi lang dahil sa grandma ko,hindi ako pupunta dito. Pero masaya siya kaya masaya narin ako. That's all.

It took five hours before the program end.

"Apo, magpapahatid nalang ako kay Dino at ikaw, puntahan mo sina David at Robert at baka nainip na 'yun kakahintay sa'yo."sabi ng grandma nang nakalabas na kami sa hall.

"But-"

"No buts. You need to at kailangan ko na ring magpahinga."

I sigh as I slouch my back, "Fine."

Alam kong ginawa lang niya 'yun dahil gusto niya akong maging masaya.

I return inside after the car is out of my sight.

***

Where is she? I am almost one hour of staying here waiting for her to come. But she isn't. Gan'un naba kalaki ang kasalanang nagawa ko sa kanya? Gan'un naba ako kasama?

Sa ilang sandali ay umalis din ako dahil alam kong hindi na siya dadating.

***

Pinuntahan ko ang restaurant na tinext sakin ni Robert. Kami-kami lang ang magdiriwang dahil parehong nasa abroad ang mga magulang ng dalawa while mine got divorced and they decided to gave me to my father's mom.

Pinauna ko lang sila dahil may kailangan akong gawin pero walang nangyari. Because I thought she'll come and we can fix this way back like from the start. But she suddenly gave up. Wala na akong magagawa.

Pagdating ko ay seryosong kumakain ang dalawa.

"Wazzup! Anong pinag-uusapan niyo?"

"Oi dude!" Gulat na bati sakin ni Robert kaya natawa ako.

"Ba't ang tagal mo?" Tanong ni David habang hawak hawak ang iniinom na lemon juice.

"Nagkaaberya kasi bro."

(Mia's POV)

Papatapos na kaming kumain nang may nakita akong pamilyar na mukha papalapit sa amin. Mali sa kabilang mesa siya papunta. Narealize kong siya pala 'yong nakasagi sakin noong nakaraang linggo.

Nakaramdam ako ng inis at takot kahit papalayo na ako sa lugar. Nang papalabas na kami ay muli kong tinignan ang pinaroroonan ng lalaking 'yun. Sa di kalayuan ay nakita kong iba ang ikinikilos at awra niya ngayon. Parang hindi ito 'yung lalaking bumangga sakin. Hindi ko nakita ang pagkahambog at sungit niya. So weird.